Book Review: 2 Treasure Boxes
Outcast Season:Book One
Publisher: Roc; Original edition (February 3, 2009), Paperback: 320 pages, ISBN-10: 0451462610, ISBN-13: 978-0451462619

This is a different twist on the contemporary fantasy.  There are people with some magical abilities known as weather wardens who have control over the elements of earth, fire, wind and water which they access through the aetheric*. And there are Djinn, beings in the aetheric without solid form (unless they choose or are tricked into using solid form) who are very powerful.  There are old Djinn and new Djinn and they are beings who are connected to the aetheric, to mother earth, to god. There are no Vampires, etc.

Cassiel is a Djinn who is cast out and arrives on earth completely naked without her Djinn powers trapped in flesh until her form settles into a long-limbed pale female form. Cassiel can no longer access or touch the aetheric, which she needs to gain strength, without it she will die.  However, she can draw temporary power from the aetheric through wardens which allows her access to some of her old powers. But she needs to be careful not to use too much power or she will become depleted and die.  She can only access the aetheric through wardens.

She makes a deal with the wardens, in return for feeding her power she will help them in their job of protecting the earth. She starts working with Manny Rocha a low-level earth warden and she gets to know his wife and daughter.  Soon she meets Luis, Manny’s handsome, stronger brother. Soon they have a mystery to solve.

As a Djinn she was cruel, arrogant and thought humans were lesser beings. She felt nothing but contempt for them, but now that she is one, she is changing.  This is a book about discovery and change.  I thought it was well written with some unique concepts. I particularly liked Cassiel’s journey and her comments and insights on being human.  However, the story did not really have an ending, it left off in the middle without resolving anything but it did reveal the reason for Cassiel being cast out. The story and concept are intriguing and I am looking forward to reading the next book.

*Aetheric:a plane of light and energy, heat and fire, heaven. Lower planes:tied to dirt and death

To Purchase: “Undone” from Amazon, click here or on picture above